Today I am writing to you from Nicaragua, ive titled it salinas but its not...its meant to be managua still, i dunno how to change it....!. We have spent the last few days getting to know this bizarre and unique country. We spent the first day at a camp type place which was with a bunch of people who are from Portland in the USA. These people were all about my age and were friends with the people who started the process of building an orphanage in Nicaragua. At the camp there were Nicaraguan people who cooked amazing food for us and cleaned etc etc. they are really nice people but they do not speak a word of English. It is rare in Nicaragua to meet people who speak any English so with me speaking no Spanish at all (their native language) communication was a challenge!!

After having lunch, we went with Sam to check out the orphanage he has basically funded. It isn't open yet and is under construction, but will be open July 1st with 9 young girls moving in. They are from the dump, which is a massive rubbish dump where people are forced to live. they live off rubbish scraps, filthy water and by reselling plastic bags. because of the extereme poverty these girls are being prostituted to truck drivers who bring in the rubbish, so the orphanages idea is to get them out of there, into school and a chance at a life past the dump. this orphanage is amazing. i have put a photo up so you can get an idea of the orphanage. i have also put a photo up of the dump so you can see where these girls are moving from..

take it easy

Zoe